OGALLALA, Neb. (Aug. 20, 2025) — The Lake Mac Casino Resort and Racetrack officially opened Tuesday in Ogallala, drawing nearly 1,000 people to a daylong celebration that featured horse racing, sports betting and a visit from Gov. Jim Pillen.
The $31 million facility includes more than 300 slot machines, electronic table games and the Draft Day sports lounge, which offers sports betting, simulcast racing and full food service.
Ole’s Steakhouse of Paxton catered a free meal before the ribbon cutting, preparing for 600 guests but running out of food as more than 900 people streamed through the gates.
Pillen praised the Kehl family, the Iowa-based developers behind the project, for their investment in Nebraska.
“It’s really important that we never, ever take each other for granted,” Pillen told the crowd. “I want to support the economic development and incredible tourism this casino brings, and give a shoutout to the Kehl family for their incredible investment here in Ogallala.”
The Kehls, longtime operators in the gaming and hospitality industry, also own and operate the Grand Island Casino and Resort at Fonner Park. The family has invested more than $250 million in Nebraska between the two projects. The Ogallala site has created 125 jobs so far and is expected to employ about 400 once fully built out.
Mary Wilson, executive director of Keith County Area Development, called the opening a milestone for the community.
“It was a momentous day for Ogallala and for the great state of Nebraska,” Wilson said. “This represents years of vision, planning and tireless work behind the scenes.”
After the ribbon cutting, the first horse race was won by Dear Dash, followed by two more races as the casino doors opened around 4 p.m.
The current casino space is temporary, but plans call for the facility to nearly double in size with additional restaurants, convention space and live table games. The casino expects to replace its electronic table games with live dealers next March.